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Objective: To investigate the blood flow Doppler parameters of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) in foetuses with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). Methods: Doppler parameters (peak systolic velocity [PSV], end‐diastolic velocity [EDV], time‐averaged maximum velocity [TAMXV] and pulsatility index [PI]) and biometric parameters were measured in two anatomical segments of the ACA (S1 and S2) and in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in 35 HLHS foetuses and 73 gestational age‐matched normal foetuses. Correlations between the cerebral artery PIs and head circumference (HC) were assessed. Results: Both EDV and TAMXV of the ACA and MCA in the HLHS group were significantly higher than in the normal group (P <.05). The PI of the ACA and MCA in the HLHS group were significantly lower than in the normal group (P <.05). ACAS1PI and ACAS2PI in the HLHS foetuses with retrograde blood flow in the aortic isthmus (AoI) were significantly lower than those of HLHS foetuses without retrograde blood flow in the AoI (P <.05). ACAS2PI was significantly lower than ACAS1PI in the HLHS foetuses with retrograde blood flow in the AoI (P =.047). The abnormal rates of ACAS1 and ACAS2 were significantly higher than that of the MCA (P <.05) in the HLHS group. The HC and biparietal diameter were significantly lower in the HLHS group than in the control group (P <.05). HC was correlated with the PIs of ACAS1, ACAS2 and the MCA in the HLHS group (P <.05). Conclusion: A redistribution of foetal cerebral blood flow appeared in HLHS, and the measurement of ACA PI might provide early information on brain hypoxia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To develop Z scores for the trachea and main bronchi in normal fetuses.Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study in 823 normal singleton fetuses. The tracheal diameter immediately proximal to the bifurcation and the left and right main bronchial diameters were measured from their inner to inner edge in the coronal view. Z scores were created for the trachea and main bronchial diameters using gestational age (GA), femur length (FL), and biparietal diameter (BPD) as independent variables.Results: Between gestational weeks 20 and 40, the inner diameters of the trachea, left principal bronchi (LPB), and right principal bronchi (RPB) increased from 1.8 to 4.7 mm, 0.8 to 2.2 mm, and 0.9 to 2.3 mm, respectively. A simple linear regression equation was fitted to model the mean of each diameter. There was however significant heteroscedasticity of the standard deviation (SD) with increasing GA, FL, or BPD. Eventually, the following formula was used to calculate Z scores for the diameters: [measured value - equation for mean]/equation for SD.Conclusion: We have developed Z scores for the fetal trachea and main bronchi by applying standard statistical methods. These Z scores may be useful to evaluate the early development of the respiratory system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]